The daughter and adoptive mother of one of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women share their story

The world stands on the brink of an unprecedented four famines in 2017. Photo courtesy of Kieran Doherty/Oxfam

Three times America led the world in famine relief — and twice it did not

By Pieta Woolley

Short List

May 2017

It’s “the biggest humanitarian crisis in the history of the United Nations.” And it’s happening now. So what is it?

Lingering and nearly lost amidst stories about the French elections, Canada’s floods, the imminent nuclear war with North Korea, the MTV awards, the new Anne of Green Gables series on the CBC and much more, headlines concerning the famine in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and northeast Nigeria are utterly horrifying. Twenty million people, largely the so-far survivors of brutal civil wars, are now without food.

With sickening synchronicity, U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration are contemplating cutting aid spending by 30 percent and spending on the United Nations by 50 percent, as Observer Publisher and Editor David Wilson notes in his May column.

“You’d think the optics of slashing American aid while other countries were stepping up might have occasioned some soul-searching in Washington,” Wilson writes. “But in Donald Trump’s scheme of things, it’s more important to boost military spending by $54 billion or to squander over $21 billion on a security wall than it is to feed starving Africans or to educate their children.

“Tragically, it’s likely only a matter of time before all-too-familiar photos of skeletal kids and their haunted parents begin to show up in the media. They will be the face of this famine.”

What America does is important. It’s a wealthy country with the capacity to give generously and make an impact. Even since the 1840s, the country has positioned itself as a moral leader in international famine relief.

In fact, that moral leadership is a foundation of the country’s identity.

“The United States . . . laid claim to the notion that nations could be based on ideals as well as interests,” the Encyclopedia of the New American Nation explains. “Religious beliefs also contributed to American conceptions of their role in the world. In addition to developing a vision of a city on a hill, a model community as exemplar to the world, the Puritans and other Christian groups emphasized the importance of doing good, which was interpreted in light of the biblical injunction to love thy neighbor.”

Of course, whenever people have been starving, the U.S. hasn’t always been there. But when it does show up, it demonstrates its unique capacity for offering relief.

Here are three times that America led the world in famine relief — and, well, twice it did not.

1. The Irish Potato Famine between 1845 and 1852

What:
An agricultural fungus, blight, damaged Irish potato crops, leading to
severe food shortages that were compounded by the British-forced export of
Irish-grown grain.

Deaths: 1.5 million

U.S. President: Democrat James Polk (to 1849)America’s response: The U.S. absorbed more than a million Irish immigrants during these years and sent US$500,000 as famine relief — a first.

2. The Russian Famine between 1921 and 1923

What: The First World War and the Bolshevik Revolution shredded the Russian economy — a situation made much worse by a drought.

Deaths: 5 millionU.S. President: Republican Warren Harding

America’s response:
The American Relief Administration (ARA) was formed by Congress after
the First World War to address European poverty. Congress gave US$20
million for Russian relief — a sum that was delivered by American and
Russian staffers. It fed about 10 million Russians. The ARA’s director,
future U.S. President Herbert Hoover, is credited with saving more
people than anyone else in history.

3. The Dutch Famine of 1944 and 1945

What:
In the German-occupied Northern territory, the Axis cut off food and
fuel supplies to about 4.5 million people nearing the end of the Second
World War.

Deaths: 22,000

U.S. President: Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt, an American of Dutch heritage

America’s Response:
Allied forces negotiated with the Germans to allow “Operation
Chowhound” (U.S.) and “Operation Manna” (U.K., Canada, New Zealand,
Poland), which dropped food from airplanes over the region. The U.S.
dropped 4,800 tonnes of food and flew more than 2,500 sorties in a
week.

4. Bangladesh Famine of 1974

What:
Two years after the Bangladeshi war for independence, which left 6
million homeless, floods damaged rice crops, and the price of food
spiked.

Deaths: 1.5 million

U.S. President: Republican Gerald Ford

America’s response: The
U.S. used 2.2 million tonnes of food aid as a pawn to stop Bangladesh
from selling jute to Cuba. By the time Bangladesh agreed, the worst of
the famine was over.

5. Current famine in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and northeast Nigeria

What: The largest humanitarian crisis in the 72-year history of the United Nations has been caused by years by civil war.

Deaths: Unknown, but an estimated 20 million are facing starvation.

U.S. President: Republican Donald Trump

America’s
response: Last year, under former U.S. President Barack Obama, the
country provided much of the aid to the area. This year, the Trump
administration has proposed slashing 30 percent from the U.S. Agency for
International Development budget.

Pieta Woolley is a writer in Powell River, B.C.

Keep it free!

If you enjoy reading our online stories about ethical living, justice and faith, please make a donation to the Friends of The Observer Fund. Supporting our award-winning journalism will help you and others to continue to access ucobserver.org for free in the months to come.

Readers’ advisory: The discussion below is moderated by The UC Observer and facilitated by Intense Debate (ID), an online commentary system. The Observer reserves the right to edit or reject any comment it deems to be inappropriate. Approved comments may be further edited for length, clarity and accuracy, and published in the print edition of the magazine. Please note: readers do not need to sign up with ID to post their comments on ucobserver.org. We require only your user name and e-mail address. Your comments will be posted from Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Join the discussion today!

An investigation of why one woman is murdered every eight hours by her husband or boyfriend in this African country — and how advocates are trying to stop it.

Editorials

by Jocelyn Bell

Editor Jocelyn Bell reflects on the power of our final words with loved ones.

Video

by Observer Staff

Kara Shaw was born prematurely, became almost totally blind and was later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The 28-year-old also has a unique musical ability, serving as a United Church music director, and performing piano on local and national stages.

These stories will make you laugh, cry and rage. Maybe they’ll spark a fond memory. Or perhaps they’ll prompt you to consider the things you need to say now, before it’s too late.

Contact us

About the Observer

Founded in 1829, The United Church Observer is the oldest continuously published magazine in North America and the second oldest in the English speaking world. It has won international acclaim for journalistic excellence and garnered more awards for writing than any other Canadian religious publication. Read more...